Old Muslim Man Assaulted After Accused of Carrying Beef on Train
An elderly Muslim man was brutally assaulted on a train in Maharashtra after being accused of carrying beef, sparking outrage over hate crimes and the safety of minorities in India.
In a deeply disturbing incident, a 72-year-old Muslim man named Ashraf Ali Syed Hussain was brutally assaulted on a train in Maharashtra after being accused of carrying beef. The incident occurred on the Dhule CSMT Express as Ashraf was traveling to Mumbai to meet his family on 28th August 2024.
The trouble began when Ashraf got into a dispute with co-passengers over a seat. The situation escalated when a group of four young men accused him of carrying cooked beef in two containers. What followed was a horrifying verbal and physical assault on the elderly man.
A video of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, shows the four men questioning Ashraf about the meat he was carrying. They can be heard using profane language and even making rape threats. The situation took a violent turn as they punched Ashraf in the face, chest, and stomach. They also snatched his phone, stole ?2,800 from him, and threatened to throw him off the train and have him killed by the police.
Despite Ashraf's repeated claims that the meat he was carrying was buffalo meat and not beef, the men refused to believe him. Shockingly, other passengers on the train recorded the assault on their phones and shared it on social media, but none intervened to help the elderly man.
After reaching his destination, Ashraf filed an FIR with the Thane Government Railway Police (GRP), leading to the detention of the accused. However, the police did not include charges of hate crime, mob attack, robbery, or attempt to murder in the FIR, despite Ashraf's requests and the clear evidence. As a result, all the accused were granted bail within hours for just ?15,000.
One of the main accused has been identified as Aashu Avhad, the son of a senior officer in the Special Reserved Police Force (SRPF). Aashu and his friends were reportedly traveling to Mumbai to appear for the police recruitment exam.
The incident has sparked outrage, particularly within the Muslim community, who are deeply concerned about the safety of minorities in India. Many have expressed their fear over the prospect of individuals like the accused becoming police officers, responsible for maintaining law and order in the country.
This shocking event has once again highlighted the growing concerns about hate crimes and the treatment of minority communities in India.
